Recently in the mail I have gotten six, count em, six knitting magazines/books. This knit from your stash thing is working alright for the yarn, but no so much for the pattern books.
Today I received three magazines. In the excitment of ripping bubble wrap (I also ordered a new swift) and yarn sniffing (one lone ball of Opal Sock because I need a new pair of socks), I paused. I’m never going to remember my first thoughts if I don’t write them down and since first thoughts are important, here we go:
Interweave Knits Spring 2007
Firstly, the layout is a might bit confusing, simply because at first I was thinking that the pictures were ads.
Previews can be found here.
Entrelac Socks: Oh, I laugh. Not at the socks, they’re awsome but at the way those would totally not fit me. All I can see at the top there is a sock like Chinese fingertrap. Not for me. However the little tutorial will come in very handy when I attempt Lady Eleanor.
Green Tea Raglan: Love. Minus the little belty thing. Just love.
Dollar and A Half Cardigan: Love lots. A linen blend yarn which my poor hands may actually be able to knit with! It’s brown! Lots of details and a nice fit.
Bonsai Tunic: Funnily enough this was a no. But I was thinking if the little belty thing were dropped and the bottom lace pattern was replaced with a continuation of the plain ribbing and if it ended at the top of the hip, it would make a very cute (and wearable) vest.
Ruffled Surplice: I thought this was a no online. But in the magazine, it’s just gorgeous. I like the texture, the way the fronts drape and the little ruffled sleeves.
Cocktail Capelet: Very cute. I would never wear it, but it is very very cute.
Angela’s Apron: I actually really like this. I’m not entirely sure exactly how functional it is say painting or in the kitchen. But seeing as the designer is a horticulturist, it seems that my first thought of having the apron work wonderfully in the garden wouldn’t be that far off the mark.
The Bamboo Tape Collection from Rowan
This is one of those books that you come to your senses on once it’s in your hot little hands. The designs are beautiful, the photographs stunning. The actual wearability of the projects? Not so much. I quite like Akina, simply because it does look very wearable. Otherwise… eh. There’s also only one Martin Storey design, a thoroughly unwearable (but lovely!) halter top. Overall, probably a no and that’s simply because I was oohing over the photography without taking into consideration the actual knitted item.
Rowan Mag. no. 41
Absolutely wonderful. I like the majority of the patterns, the photography is stunning and most importantly, it all looks very wearable. In fact, it would be easier to list the patterns I’m not interested in than all the ones that I am interested in. Thankfully for my yearly yarn budget, most of the patterns persist in the Rowan standard of sizing with an XL = 40″.
So ones I like that are in my size range:
- Joy - crocheted though and I’m nowhere near good enough at crochet to make a sweater
- Lords and Ladies - and here I swore off KSH
- Rhianwen - I’m unsure if this is actually wearable by mere mortals who are not standing around in a Moroccan market.
- Maris - Calmer, 1950s twinset look with cropped shapping. Lovely.
- Regan - I have no idea why I like this, it looks remarkably like a shirt my mother used to have replete with big floppy bow and 1980s shoulder pads.
- Henley - Calmer, Martin Storey design, reminds me of my favorite cricket inspired sweater that stretched into oblivion and was rendered unwearable.
- Dandelion - just not in that color pink, ick.
Reviews in part 2: Fitted Knits by Stephanie Japel, Knitting Around by Elizabeth Zimmerman and Handknit Holidays by Melanie Falick.
Actual Knitting Content
- finished leg warmers.
- working on Picovoli
- started Forecast (yay!)
And now to go work on Forecast some more.
